The Economic and Social Council of the League of Arab States convened its 112th ordinary session from 27 to 31 August at the General Secretariat's headquarters. During these meetings, the presidency of the Council was handed over from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the Republic of Yemen, in accordance with the alphabetical arrangement of Arab countries.
The draft agenda of the Council included several significant topics. These encompassed an initiative put forth by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, aimed at supporting efforts to rescue the agricultural season in the Republic of Sudan. Additionally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proposed the establishment of a Council of Ministers for Arab Cybersecurity. The agenda also covered amendments to the regulations and standards for establishing specialised Arab organisations and entities under the League of Arab States.
Furthermore, the meetings discussed the Syrian Arab Republic's proposal for investments in education, particularly digital education. The Tunisian Republic also proposed the establishment of a regional center for underwater cultural heritage in the Tunisian city of Mahdia. The agenda included several recurring topics of importance, such as developments related to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and support for the Palestinian economy, considering the escalating challenges faced due to the actions of the Israeli occupation forces.
A dedicated working session at the senior officials' level was allocated for preparing for the fifth session of the Arab Development Summit on economic and social matters, to be hosted by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in November 2023. The committee responsible for follow-up and preparations for the summit conducted its meetings under the presidency of the Lebanese Republic, both at the senior officials' and ministerial levels, on the sidelines of the 112th ordinary session of the Council.
